TCM in January: Highlights

Happy New Year to all my readers!

It's now time for a detailed look at the January schedule on Turner Classic Movies.

The January Star of the Month will be Jean Arthur. 22 of Arthur's films will be shown on Thursday evenings over the course of the month.

For much more about the Star of the Month series, including the complete schedule and numerous review links, please visit my post TCM Star of the Month: Jean Arthur.

January's Noir Alley films will start with the TCM premiere of THE SECOND WOMAN (1950) on January 3rd and 4th. Later in the month Noir Alley will feature CRIME OF PASSION (1957) on the 10th and 11th, DIABOLIQUE (1955) on January 17th-18th, SHIELD FOR MURDER (1954) on the 24th and 25th, and TALK ABOUT A STRANGER (1952) on January 31st and February 2nd.

The TCM Spotlight on Friday nights features films with flashback sequences.

Also of note: TCM premiered the first episode of the serial HOLT OF THE SECRET SERVICE (1941), starring Jack Holt, on December 27th. Look for more episodes of this serial every Saturday morning in January. This is the first time this serial has ever been shown on TCM.

Here's a look at just a few of the interesting things ahead in January. Please click any hyperlinked title to read a complete review.

...New Year's Day will feature eight films starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, including half a dozen thin man films. Also on the schedule is I LOVE YOU AGAIN (1941), which I just reviewed earlier this week.

..."Flashback Fridays" begin on January 2nd with a prime time lineup including CITIZEN KANE (1941) and THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952).

...There's some great '50s sci-fi airing January 3rd: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (12951) and EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS (1956).

...HOMECOMING (1948) is a little-known, very good WWII film starring Clark Gable, Lana Turner, and Anne Baxter. It's on January 4th.

...TCM pays tribute to songwriter Sammy Cahn on January 5th and 12th. The lineup on January 5th includes THE TENDER TRAP (1955), which has a couple wonderful presentations of the title song. Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds star along with Celeste Holm and David Wayne.

...TCM pays tribute to Louis Hayward on January 7th with a six-film prime time lineup including the TCM premiere of THE BLACK ARROW (1948), costarring Janet Blair.

...The January 9th schedule is one of the many reasons I love TCM: The lineup is devoted to Johnny Mack Brown, and five of the day's 11 movies will be TCM premieres!

...I really enjoy NO MORE LADIES (1935), airing on January 12th. It stars Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, and Franchot Tone. Marvelous MGM glamour!

...January 13th features a day of film noir, including the rather creatively named FLAXY MARTIN (1949), starring Virginia Mayo, Zachary Scott, and Dorothy Malone.

...Director Lloyd Bacon is honored on January 14th with an eight-film lineup including EVER SINCE EVE (1937). EVER SINCE EVE stars Marion Davies and Robert Montgomery; I found it quite enjoyable.

...January 15th is the 89th birthday of Margaret O'Brien! TCM celebrates with seven films and a short. I have a special fondness for LOST ANGEL (1943), which was on TV often when I was young. James Craig and Marsha Hunt costar.

...The charming THE AFFAIRS OF MARTHA (1942), showing on January 18th, was one of the favorite films of star Marsha Hunt; I spoke about it with her at the Egyptian Theatre in 2011. She costars with Richard Carlson and a marvelous cast of character actors.

...I really enjoyed Walter Matthau in THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974) a few years ago. It's on January 21st as part of an evening of films set in 1970s New York.

...Favorite Robert Taylor is the focus on January 23rd. I've enjoyed all of the seven Taylor films being shown that day and especially recommend the film noir HIGH WALL (1947). Audrey Totter costars.

...Diane Keaton will receive a memorial tribute on January 25th, with the lineup including one of my personal favorites, BABY BOOM (1987).

...January 28th will be a tribute to the late Rob Reiner, including the TCM premiere of THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987).

...Another good Robert Taylor film is PARTY GIRL (1958), costarring Cyd Charisse and directed by Nicholas Ray. It will be shown January 29th.

...The "flashback" movies on January 30th include Preston Sturges' THE GREAT MCGINTY (1940), starring Brian Donlevy.

...The month ends with a January 31st showing of John Wayne in John Ford's THE SEARCHERS (1956), which many of us consider one of the greatest movies ever made.

For more on TCM in January 2026, please visit Quick Preview of TCM in January, TCM Star of the Month: Jean Arthur, and TCM's online schedule.

Tweet